What would you do? Neighbour's barking dog.

[ljn1650]

For over three years my neighbour's dog has been slowly and surely leading me to a nervous breakdown. They often leave it outside alone while they go back inside and shut the back door. This could be 5 minutes or 4 hours. The dog barks and howls until it is eventually let inside. There is no pattern to it, and because I'm expecting the noise all the time, I can't relax or work in my own home. I can't open my windows due to the noise in the morning and evening.

About a year ago, I visited them a few times over a few weeks to politely explain the situation and ask if the could do something. The man was reasonable, but his wife yelled I was crazy, slamming the door in my face. I left it, as I didn't want the confrontation and was scared of what they would do if I pursued it.

The problem is now I work from home every day and I have started to get regular migraines and have been in hospital for chest pains and stress related issues (due to a combination of things in my life). The barking is just not something I can live with anymore, but I feel utterly powerless. Complaining to the council is off the cards, as I don't own the house and it wouldn't be fair to create issues if they choose to sell in the future.

What would you do? Do you think I am being unreasonable? I'm beginning to think I am crazy.

Dog barking is one of the most common noise complaints received by local authorities.

And it sounds like an easy fix for the owners.

You can speak to the council just to ask their advice. And the process is a fairly long one, it doesn't show on searches until very late in the process either. Often, the first step the council takes (writing to the alleged offender) is enough to make the noise cease.

Although, all that said, I can't see why you give a flying fuck about them having difficulty selling their house if they're causing you so much distress!

You should probably phone the RSPCA anyway. They might do something. Is there even shelter for it? Just picking up on what a PP said.

I’d then speak to your landlord in case they can/want to do something. And then go to the council.

I've had this happen to me. Lucily the NDNs didn't realise how bad it was. Their dog had some sort of dog flap to go in and out and it literally barked continually when NDNs were out. It was horrible. If I called --shouted- out the window at it, it stopped for about a minute then started up again.

I went to see the NDNs and I have no idea what they did (I think they might have rehomed the dog TBH) but it stopped.

Please do not go over there and take the dog into your house like a PP suggested! The woman is obviously argumentative and that will be red rag to a bull.

Complain to anyone who will listen. Council, other neighbours etc. Do not put up with it any longer. Unless you have been subjected to this you have no idea what this is like, it started to rule my life.

@AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit
Have you complained to your neighbours landlord?

I'd def suggest council noise complaint

We have dog wardens at our LA. Contact them for advice.

Our council were brilliant when we had a problem with a neighbour's dog crying constantly when left alone.

It was reported to environmental health as a noise nuisance issue, and was sorted within 3 months. The owner now has the dog cared for elsewhere while she is at work, and all is peaceful.

Contact the council. It sounds awful.

This is your home and health. Why are the owners more important than you?

Sadly there’s a lot of owners that get a dog and don’t realise how much they need in terms of companionship, stimulation and commitment. Many dogs left for long periods of time suffer with separation anxiety, which causes the barking. There was a dog who lived next to our old house, he was neglected, kept out in the cold in the day and night, constantly howling to be let in and I noticed he had missing patches of fur, he never used to look up when I looked out the window and called him, he was that depressed. I called the RSPCA, as I was concerned about his welfare and couldn’t relax knowing he was being neglected, they were great and visited our neighbours, a couple of weeks later I was told the dog had been removed because it had a problem with its eyelids, which was painful and left untreated by the owners, he had sores caused by allergies (left untreated) ear mites and was clear he was withdrawn and depressed. Some people don’t deserve dogs!

That sounds awful, OP, I’m not surprised you’re finding it unbearable. And that poor dog. Some people don’t think before they get themselves a cute puppy, forgetting that dogs live a long time and are high maintenance.

That’s why I wouldn’t want a dog (even if my DH wasn’t allergic) and have three cats instead.

Who are all of these people ‘joking’ about poisoning animals. Hilarious

OP you need to contact the council. I never allow my dogs to bark outside and it can be done but it requires training and consistency on the owners part so it’s probably easier for them to just turn the TV up. Maybe a letter from the council will kick them into action.

Most councils have a dog warden. That will be a good starting point.
Barking dogs are a really common noise complaint and letting a dog bark for hours is cruel imo.

I voted YABU because you're not doing the one thing that might help - a noise complaint to the council. Other than moving house, it really is the only option here.

What is it your worried about? What do you think they might do?

Complaining to the council is off the cards, as I don't own the house and it wouldn't be fair to create issues if they choose to sell in the future

Except you're not the one creating the issue – the owners are.

Absolutely put in a complaint to the council – and let your landlord know you're doing so.

Anyone advocating poisoning a neglected animal must be hard of thinking.

It’s the owner’s fault, not the dog.

Neighbours in nearby courtyard had a dog that barked continuously when left. I was a bit away so although I could hear it, it didn't bother me too much. But a complaint was made to the Council. The owner blamed me. I knew full well who had made the complaint because she had been canvassing other residents. I found the courtyard residents toxic, so I kept out of it.

One of the things she said when blaming me was that her dog did not bark. I asked how she could possibly know this if she was out. She then went on to blame my ndn. In the end I told her to hazard a guess, it was a whole lot closer to home fgs.

You need to go to the Council. They need a warning letter. Please don't delay. No-one should be allowed to inflict this upon you to the stage you have no quality of life or happiness in your home. Start to put your own needs first.

@contrmary

So you suggest a device that causes discomfort to a dogs ear, which then can’t get away from the noise because the dogs owners have locked him out!?
You are blaming a dog who clearly is suffering from anxiety and you think punishing him for that is the right thing to do, I often wonder about some people!

@ljn1650 - The fault lies with the owner, not the dog!

Google Hundt on Amazon. Works a treat.

Dies your council have a dog warden. I believe they can deal with this.